You Can't Get There From Here !

Quite a few years ago I lived in Columbia, Maryland. Now, for those of you who have never been to Columbia, and I was one of them, Columbia was one of the first "planned communities" in the country. I believe it was Mr Rouse who planned out the entire city... separated it into specific "villages"... from the very beginning.

I think it was during my first week after arriving in Columbia. I was driving around... I think I was on Little Patuxent Parkway... and somehow I got lost. I drove around some more, and seemed to be going in circles I just cound NOT find what I was looking for.

So... I thought that I would ask the next pedestrian I saw for directions. I looked aroung... and there he was... walking down the sidewalk on Highway 29, or 175, or whatever road it was.

I slowed down... almost to a stop... and motioned to this older man on the sidewalk to come over to my car. There I was... this frazzled looking young woman with the Texas license plates... looking like I had no clue.

He came over to my car, looking like he would be glad to help me. Such nice men, these Columbia folks, I thought. So I asked him... "sir... I am trying to find the Village of Long Reach. Can you help me.

This nice gentleman looked at me, and without missing a beat, said... "Oh... You Can't Get There From Here !"

My jaw dropped... and I must have looked very confused. I asked... "What do you mean... I can't get there from here ? How can that be ?

He proceeded to tell me that he could tell me how to get to the Village of Dorsey's Search... and once I got there... then I could ask someone else for directions to the Village of Long Reach." But he said I couldn't get there from here. If I tried, I would only find dead end streets... and get really lost. I had to turn around.

Relationships with buyers and sellers are kind of like the directions that nice man tried to give me. If my clients and I are in a give-and-take relationship... if each of us gives the other what we need, and then the other reciprocates... the relationship "works."

If I go out of my way to help my seller... if I do whatever my buyers need me to do, and they in return get their inspections, get pre-qualified, get their repairs done, pay off enough of their bills to raise their credit scores... find their tax returns... everyone wins. The sellers sell their home, the buyers close on their home... and sooner or later I get paid. What a concept!

But when it's only one party who is doing all the work... either the seller or their agent... or either the buyer and their agent... things fall apart. It is no longer a two-way-street... and it usually turns into a Dead End !

It's like the man told me when I was asking for directions. If you're driving down a one way street, you rarely find your way. So how does a real estate transaction become successful without the cooperation of the buyer, the buyer's agent, the seller, and the seller's agent ? It doesn't! It's a dead end.

Without give and take, without a two-way street... how do you get a successful transaction ? It's like the man said... You Can't Get There From Here !

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Realtor Karen Anne Stone gives great directions ! If you're lost, and cannot find your way to your next home... visit Karen Anne's website at www.NewHomeHuntersOfTarrantCounty.com . Karen Anne can also be reached at (817) 929-3400. Call Karen Anne today ! She knows how to get you where you want to go !

Hi Jason: I am doing weller than I was three weeks ago, that is for sure. I have a voice, I am vertical, and have actually lost some weight (not enough, though) while I was sick. I have been out "stirring the pot..." visiting my sphere, planting new referral seeds, and practicing my new craft... blogging. I am also investing in myself.

Last Sunday I bought a MAC. I went to the Apple Store in Southlake, attended a one hour introduction to the MAC class, and sprang for it. Yesterday I took my PC and my MAC into the Apple Store for them to "transfer" everything from my PC to my MAC... pictures, documents, my "favorites" and whatever else I needed. Tomorrow I get it back, and also, at 4:00pm... I take my first one-hour-long one-on-one class with my MAC "creative counselor." I will be having a one-hour personal class... once a week... for the next fifty-two weeks.

Robin is doing as well as she can. As you may know, Robin had to put her puppy Lady to sleep. She was hurting pretty badly... as one might expect. I am not sure she did the right thing... it might be too soon, but only Robin knows that... but last Sunday she went to a local Shih Tzu breeder, and picked out a little female Shih Tzu puppy. I went over and met the little ball of energy and fur on Tuesday, and she is so cute. So, consider yourself updated.

Thanks for your kind comments. Take care, and please "tuddle" with Abby for me.

Karen - what a great analogy with clients, agents and dead-end streets. You have such a way with words...I am going to stick around some more in your neck of the woods. Sorry to hear you have been under the weather and that Robin had to put her puppy down, I am pretty attached to my two little companions, Taco & Bella and I don't know how I would do if I had to do the same with one. Hope the new addition helps the pain subside some. Enjoy.

Karen Anne - I prefer the two way streets, myself. It make transactions go a lot smoother when your clients ride the same roads. Not sure who Robin is - but please covey my sympathies to her for the loss of her puppy. I hope the new one brings her much happiness.

Hi Candace: I caught a really good case of bronchitis from a client who swore his sneezing was only allergies. I should have followed my instincts and either made him walk, or put him in my trunk. <grin> Please, I would love to have you read more of my posts. I'd be very interested in your comments. You are welcome in my "neck of the woods" any time.

I love your names for your pets... Taco and Bella. Too Cool. Robin is getting to know her new little Shih Tzu. I am not sure if getting a new puppy so soon is a good idea. I have heard of some people who grew to actually "resent" the new puppy... because it wasn't the same as the "old" puppy. It's not easy for her, and I totally understand that. Robin is 35, by the way... and I am not... LOL. I first got into real estate when Robin was two years old. How time flies. Take care, Candace. If I can help in any way, please let me know.

Hi Karen Anne, It is NOT easy, as you state, to have a smooth transaction when you get little cooperation from the other agent or client. However, we are lucky that most of our realtors do their own work. If they don't, I'll bug them to death until they do. I will kill them with kindness.....sugar is always better than sour.

Hi Kay: Yes, it sure isn't easy when you have to do the jobs of both agents in the transaction. However, I also agree in being as nice as can be, unless I feel I am being taken advantage of. Then, all bets are off. It rarely happens, though. Kay, I am so glad you love my blog posts. I love your comments. Keep them coming. Thanks for your kind words... take care...

Karen - I agree with those above that this analogy is perfect. Nothing works better than everyone doing their job in a transaction but we can still "take the bull by the horns" when necessary to make our clients happy although it does not always work out if someone misses the mark.

Hi Judy: Trust me, my dear. If I see that all I am getting from the other agent, or even my own client, us "bull"... I am totally ready to take the bull by the horns. I have always been known as a "deal maker." By that, I mean that many of my Realtor friends know that if they have a "deal" with me... it will go through. I do what is necessary, and if that requires my doing someone else's job... I do it. Judy... thanks for sharing. Take care...

Good way to illustrate the "two way street" mechanics of a transaction. I wouldn't mind seeing this as a public post because there is so much confusion out there on how a transaction works (or isn't working!)

Glad to know you are better and your daughter has a new puppy. I would have the same concerns as you do, but it could be a very good thing. Sounds adorable!

Have fun on your new Mac! I would like to get my son into those classes -- brilliant Apple idea!

Very nice story and a great analogy between getting lost and selling real estate successfully. I am very sorry about Robin losing her pet. This is so devastating. And I am glad to hear you are feeling better, too. Fighting a cold myself. The dang thing just won't die!!

Hi Elaine: I think that using everyday examples that are not even connected to real estate... gets the point across much better than simply describing the nuts and bolts of how a sale makes it from start to closing. IT's kind of like a "parable." And yes, Robin has a new puppy. The new lil baby girl is simply adorable. As far as my MAC is concerned... I had my first one-on-one lesson yesterday. It was awesome. My Apple "Creative Consultant" was very patient, explained thing in very much of an every-day way rather than getting all "techie" on me, and encouraged me to ask questions... which I did. His name is Jesse, and he made me feel very much at ease. Thanks for your kind words, Elaine. Take care... By the way, I followed your advice, and did submit this to Localism. Thanks for the idea.

Hi Bonnie: Yes, unfortunately these days... getting lost and being in Real Estate are kind of similar, aren't they ? <grin> As far as you cold... yes, fight it. Chicken soup (home made preferably) lots of vitamin C, and get some rest. Much too often my colds turn into bronchitis. Not so good. Bonnie, thanks so much for your kind words. Take care...

Hi Susie: Yes... two-way streets... good. One-way streets... dead end... not-so-good. I find that I can make my point much better when I put it into the form of a "parable." It just makes so much more sense to me. Thanks so much for your very kind words. I appreciate them more than you know. I hope things are wellwith you. By the way, Joe and Friends are going to be in Dallas in April. Wanna Come ? Take care...

Hi Nancy: That's what we like... smooth transactions. When everyone is going down the same path... it usually leads to success. Robin is my daughter. She is 35, and has had Lady as her little baby Shih Tzu since she was eighteen. Seventeen years is a very long time, an losing her little girl puppy after being such a major part of her life... was very hard on her. Thanks so much for your concern. Take care...

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